The clothing style differs slightly among the various Amish communities. In Etheridge, TN, where a group of very conservative Amish live, the men and boy's straw hats have much larger brims than in many other Amish communities where we have friends. What are some differences in clothes among the Amish communities you have visited?
There are differet styles in different areas of Western New York, where I live. In one area the style is more conservative, with mainly blues and dark green clothing. In the other area there are lighter colors, such as some lighter purples, blues, and light green colrs. Perhaps even an occasional light pink color. Also the colors on the buggies is different. The more conservative buggies have a tannish color of brown on the tops of them, whereas the less conservative buggies have all black on the tops. I find this very interesting!
Yes, and to confuse us "Englishers" even more, the Old Order or Horse and Buggy Mennonites also wear a different style and color of clothes, and their buggies are different too, which varies from community to community.
I think the Amish here in my neck of the woods are Old Order Amish, although they do get pretty liberal with their children when they are in rum— I don't know how to spell it! Unfortunately they have been listed in the paper sometimes as disorderly and under the influence of alcohol. I am sure their parents are not happy, but I know they also are letting them "decide", too.
Sometimes, when the news media does a story on Amish young people running wild, it makes people think that all Amish teenagers do that. Yes, there are some who do, but many Amish young people, although free to explore the modern world, never get involved with alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes.
I've never visited any other amish communities, and only have experience with the Geauga County, Ohio Amish. Here the dresses are fastened with straight pins, not buttons (except for the smaller children). Their prayer caps don't have the more commonly seen "heart" shape in the back. I know there are probably many other differences in terms of dress style, colors, men's shirt styles, pants styles, etc., but I don't know enough about them to comment on that — except that the colors seen here are pastels in green, blue, pinkish, yellow, and darker colors of blue, green, brown. There is a half apron (meaning, from the waist down, down a full apron), of the same color as the dress itself, or perhaps this is just another panel of the dress itself, I'm not really sure. At any rate, the Amish here don't wear a black apron with their dresses, but on Sundays they wear a white apron. The dresses are short-sleeved. I can't recall seeing a long-sleeved dress, ever. The shoes worn are flat heeled black shoes (not anything fancy like flats) boots or black tennis shoes.
Scooters and rollerblades, are very popular with the Amish around here. I can't recall ever seeing them use bikes, although I had to smile when I saw a few Little Tykes Cozy Coupes in an Amish yard once!
I watch the amish at a auction in our area. I never really noticed all the different things until I started reading the amish books. One thing I was curious about was the dresses they wear. On the covers I once saw a picture of a clothesline with all these amish dresses in different colors. The odd thing was they were like a wrapped dress with arm holes. I realize they sew their clothes and they pin them. Why do they not use buttons and why use so much fabric to wrap the bodies in all the heat of the summer. I wondered if there dresses are all wrap style.
I was also curious to know how they can convince their children by dressing this way that they will be pleasing their god. It makes me wonder what they think when they see englishers with the hair, jewelry and fancy clothes. How do they look at the difference in the two cultures and think how do our kids please god by dressing like us?
Many Amish have English friends, neighbors, and even some relatives, so they accept their way of dressing. However, that being said, the Amish feel that dressing plain shows their humility and subjection to God.
I can understand why they feel that way!! With so much revealing clothing nowadays, maybe alot of us need to dress simpler and take advice from the amish!
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